Processor Dunbia has hosted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a recent fact-finding mission to Wales.

Stan Phillips, agricultural counsellor and Steve Knight, agricultural specialist, visited Dunbia’s factory at Llanybydder and were provided with a tour by Paul Edwards, managing director of Dunbia Wales. During the tour, Phillips was heard remarking, “The technology at the LLanybydder Dunbia plant is very impressive.”

Discussions around access to the US market for prime Welsh lamb were also held during the visit. Phillips added: “Our technical experts still have a lot of work to do, but there have been a couple of major steps forwards since March in establishing access to the US market for UK lamb, and TTIP could make Welsh lamb more competitive with Australian and New Zealand lamb in the US market.”

Jim Dobson, Dunbia Group chief executive, also welcomed the visitors to Dunbia Llanybydder: “Dunbia is committed to establishing new global markets for Welsh Lamb. We are delighted to welcome Mr Phillips and Mr Knight from USDA to Dunbia to help showcase the Welsh Lamb industry to key players in the USDA. Opening any new market is a slow process, but developing strong relationships is vital. We will continue to work with and for the Welsh Lamb industry and look forward to seeing Welsh Lamb on the shelves of American supermarkets in the future.”

As well as the visit to Dunbia, the USDA representatives enjoyed farm visits to view the on-farm production of Welsh Lamb in association with Welsh Government officials. Huw and Sheila Davies, who supply National Trust Dolaucothi lamb into the Llanybydder plant, hosted the USDA and Welsh Government officials at their Cothi Valley farm.